[Moon] Fwd: Fwd: EME weekend on 24GHz_March 9, 2008

[vladimir.masek at volny.cz]

Many thanks to all 
who participated in the great weekend party on 24GHz EME !

OK1KIR finally got on the board completing the rig after 4 yrs (hi)
and contacted all stns available on Sunday, Mar09:
11:03 UT  24048.100 MHz  OK1KIR - DF1OI   O/O
11:34 UT  24048.100 MHz  OK1KIR - DK7LJ   O/O fb
14:01 UT   24048.200 MHz OK1KIR - LX1DB   449/449
16:01 UT   24048.100 MHz  OK1KIR - W5LUA  O/O --> 549/449
17:06 UT  24048.150 MHz   OK1KIR - VE4MA  O/O
We are really happy for each one contact, especially mentioning the
first OK-LX and OK-VE QSOs.
Rotating the feed (LP) showed low influence (as perceived, not
measured) except approx. +/- 10 ...15 deg from quite deep minimum at
perpendicular polarization. Signals showed frequency spreading from
about 100 Hz up to 200 or 300 at maximum on Spectran waterfall. Very
clean (narrow) signal during QSO with DK7LJ and later on quite clean
from LX1DB and especially from W5LUA. RX CW bandwidth about 1 kHz was
optimum for most of signals during the day.
Sun was 14.8dB morning at 09:00 UT (lightly cloudy) and 14.4 dB
afternoon at el 43deg (more cloudy). Respective Moon noise was approx.
1.95 dB in both cases. Noise ratios were measured to close sky (not
searching for maximum in the couldest sky like few weeks ago).
Antenna beamwidth slightly over 0.2deg (hard to measure on noise
sources of 0.5 deg size). Moon tracking F1EHN with incremental steps
of 0.02 deg was used to point the beam to the Moon centre (tested every
10...15 min with small but necessary corrections). Changes less than
+/- 0.02 dB in Moon noise when rotating the rig focus gear.
OK1KIR 24GHz rig:
Primary solid dish 4.5m, horn feed - linear
polarization+ transverter+TWT/PS all in the focal point  and rotable
over +/-90deg.  LNA DB6NT 1.5dB (not measured), rf pwr about 20W (not
measured precisely as each one piece of WG or transition swallows 0.5
dB or more. Two WG switches in series  after TWT (continuously powered
up) with proper sequencing to safely operate LNA.
We are ready for anybody else interested in tests, just send e-mail in
advance !
We preliminary agreed with Per, DK7LJ to be QRV on 24GHz on the
Saturday, Mar15 afternoon during the DUBUS contest. Anybody else
interested to arrange (agree) a time window on 24 GHz during the contest
?
Vy 73s,
Vladimir, OK1DAK for OK1KIR